Columbia laboratory to lay off 177 workers next year

December 5, 2018

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Columbia laboratory has announced plans to lay off 177 workers next year after being sold.

The Columbia Missourian reports that Boyce & Bynum Pathology Laboratories disclosed how many workers would lose their jobs in a notice filed with the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The notice says the layoffs will begin in February and continue through April.

Last week, New Jersey-based Quest Diagnostics announced that it had signed an agreement to acquire Boyce & Bynum’s assets and clinical lab business. Boyce & Bynum said in a statement that it realizes the layoffs will be “painful” and only made the decision after reviewing its options in a “challenging healthcare landscape.”

The laid off workers will be able to apply for jobs with Quest, which has more than 45,000 employees nationwide.